Japan-Iowa all-star roster announced

This from Perfect Game USA. A team of mostly Eastern Iowa all-stars will play a team from Yamanashi, Japan on Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.The Japanese team also is playing games against Central Iowa squads.Here is the press release with rosters:

IOWA ROSTER NAMED FOR JAPAN-IOWA ALL-STAR CLASSICCEDAR RAPIDS – Three state champions and 11 all-state baseball players have been named to the Iowa roster for the Japan-Iowa High School All-Star Classic, to be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Aug. 17.Austin Christensen and Griffin Michael, who helped Cedar Rapids Kennedy win the Class 4A state title this summer, and Nick Day, who helped Solon claim the Class 2A crown, are three of the top performers who will play in this special international event.The list of all-state players includes Dakota Freese (Cedar Rapids Washington), Braden Shull (Mt. Pleasant), Andrew Hedrick (Ankeny), Brad Chelleen (Dowling Catholic), Ryan Rumpf (Iowa City West), Jake Peter (Mason City), Spencer Mallonee (Davenport Assumption), Nick Suckow (Waukee), Tommy Argo (Davenport Assumption), Christensen and Day.Christensen hit .488 this season with eight homers and 43 RBIs. He also compiled a 9-4 record and 1.94 ERA and was the winning pitcher when Kennedy topped Iowa City West, 11-1, for the 4A title. Michael hit .379 with 28 RBIs and excelled at shortstop for the Cougars.Day batted .471 with nine homers and 56 RBIs for Solon. He also starred on the mound for the Spartans with a 9-0 record, 1.52 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings.Freese had a 6-3 record for Cedar Rapids Washington this season with a 2.69 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. Shull went 7-2 for Mt. Pleasant with a 7-2 mark and 2.57 ERA. Hedrick compiled a 9-2 record for Ankeny with a 0.81 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings. Chelleen went 7-0 for Dowling with a 1.87 ERA.Rumpf hit .410 for Iowa City West with 4 homers and 41 RBIs. He also excelled as a pitcher, going 11-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 74 innings. Peter hit .477 for Mason City with six homers and 30 RBIs. Mallonee hit .425 for Davenport Assumption with one homer and 24 RBIs.Suckow hit .426 for Waukee with 12 homers and 47 RBIs. Argo batted an even .500 for Davenport Assumption with three homers and 40 RBIs.Iowa's all-star roster also includes David Stagg (West Des Moines Valley), Matt Bonestroo (Ames), Austin Smith (Davenport Assumption), Mack Mattke (Cedar Rapids Xavier), Nate Ewing (Iowa City West) and Anthony Gagliardi (Cedar Rapids Prairie).Mattke is the only junior-to-be on the Iowa all-star team. All of the other players will be seniors during the 2010-11 school year.Hedrick and Day have committed to play college baseball at the University of Iowa. Christensen has committed to Nebraska.Iowa's opponent in the Japan-Iowa Classic will be a high school all-star team from Yamanashi, Japan. The Japanese team will play several games in Central Iowa before playing in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 17.Tickets for the Japan-Iowa All-Star Classic cost $5 and can be purchased at the Cedar Rapids Kernels ticket office at Veterans Memorial Stadium. All tickets are general admission.Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the game. There will be a special pre-game ceremony at 6:30, followed by the game at 7 p.m.The Iowa All-Star team was selected by Perfect Game USA, which is one of the sponsors. The other sponsors are the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Iowa AAU.The full roster for the Iowa All-Star team is listed below.For more information on the Japan-Iowa All-Star Classic please contact:Jim Ecker, Information DirectorPerfect Game USA319-432-2889

Jecker@PerfectGame.org

IOWA ALL-STAR TEAM

PITCHERS ONLY – Dakota Freese (Cedar Rapids Washington), Braden Shull (Mt. Pleasant), Andrew Hedrick (Ankeny), David Stagg (West Des Moines Valley), Brad Chelleen (West Des Moines Dowling Catholic).

PITCHER/3B – Ryan Rumpf (Iowa City West).

CATCHERS – Matt Bonestroo (Ames), Austin Smith (Davenport Assumption).

FIRST BASE – Mack Mattke (Cedar Rapids Xavier).

INFIELDERS – Nate Ewing (Iowa City West), Jake Peter (Mason City), Spencer Mallonee (Davenport Assumption), Griffin Michael (Cedar Rapids Kennedy).

THIRD BASE – Nick Suckow (Waukee).

OUTFIELDERS – Tommy Argo (Davenport Assumption), Austin Christensen (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Nick Day (Solon), Anthony Gagliardi (Cedar Rapids Prairie).